Toy vehicle



Oct. 31, 1967 J FLACK 3,350,112

TOY VEHICLE Filed Oct. 25, 1965 I NVENTOR.

ERA/E57 J. FLACK BY United States Patent 3,350,112 TOY VEHICLE Ernest J. Flack, 905 De Soto Road, Baltimore, Md. 21223 Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 502,979

' 3 Claims. (Cl. 280-16) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A toy vehicle having a pair of longitudinally aligned foot supporting platforms with a rlmner fixed on the underside of each thereof and a third steerable runner rotatably supported beneath one of the platforms in advance of the fixed runner thereon; the platforms held in spaced longitudinal alignment by means of transverse connecting members pivotally connected to the platforms on pivotal axes extending longitudinally thereof to permit lateral tilting of the platforms and a connecting linkage between the platforms to insure tilting of the platforms in unison while maintaining their parallelism.

The present invention relates to a toy scooter-type vehicle.

The primary object of the invention is to provide such a toy vehicle with two parallel platforms upon which the operator may stand.

Another object of the invention is to provide the vehicle with means for guiding the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for changing the angle of the supporting elements relative to the surface upon which the vehicle is supported. 7

While the vehicle is illustrated with runners for operation over snow and ice, it may be constructed with wheels which take the place of the runners for operating the scooter over dry land such as pavements, streets, etc.

While several objects of the invention have been set forth, other objects will become more apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed, consisting of its novel construction and the combination of its several parts as shown in the accompanying drawings, and in which: i

FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation with parts broken away of the vehicle.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the same taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front end elevation of the vehicle.

FIGURE 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of FIG- URE 1.

In describing the invention, like numerals are used to indicate like and similar parts throughout the several views.

The invention comprises a pair of separate platforms 2 and 4 adapted to receive the foot of the operator, that is, one foot on each platform.

The platform 2 is provided with two runners 6 and 8. The runner 6 is fixed to the platform 2 and extends only part way beneath the platform. The runner 8 is in the same plane as the fixed runner 6 and is adapted to be pivotally connected to the lower end of a steering post 10. The upper end of the steering post is provided with a cross bar 12 for rotating the steering post and to also act as a support for the operator when he is riding the vehicle. I

The platform 4 is provided with a fixed runner 14 which extends substantially the full length of the vehicle.

The two platforms 2 and 4 are connected at their ends by plates or other suitable means 16 and 18 and are preferably hinged to the platforms by screws 20. However, the plates may be fixed to both platforms to form .a rigid 3,359,112 Patented Oct. 31, 1967 assembly if desired. Another arrangement is to fixedly secure the plates 16 and 18 only to the platform member 4 and hingedly connected to the platform 2 to maintain the platform 4 in a general upright position relative to the support 2. The platform 2 may always be kept in an operating upright position by means of the steering post 10, which is always in the grasp of the operator when the vehicle is in use.

Referring again to the present illustrations, the steering post 10 is rotatable within an opening 22 formed vertically through the front end of one of the platforms such as shown extending through platform 2. The post is held in position by collars 24 and 26.

When the plates are hingedly connected to the platforms, there is fixedly secured to the front end of the platform 4 opposite the steering post 10 an arm 28, and pivotally connected to the upper end thereof is one end of a horizontal bar 30. The opposite end of the bar 30 being pivotally connected to a clevis 32 through the steering post 10 is slidably receivable. The clevis 32 being positioned on the post by the collars 34 and 36. This arrangement will allow the runners to be angled in respect to the surface upon which the runners or wheels (not shown) are supported, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 3 at 10", 10", 28' and 28 By providing this action the vehicle may be leaned in the direction of a turn and enable the operator to remain in balance while operating the vehicle.

To provide for more security for the operator, the platforms are provided with toe stops 39 and 40 against which the toe of the shoe may engage for helping to maintain the boot of the operator in a predetermined location on the upper surface of the platform.

The present scooter is shown with only a central runner for each platform, however, each platform may be provided with dual runners or wheels, whichever is preferred. The dual runners or wheels may be preferable for small children while the more daring may prefer the single runner.

While the invention has been shown in a particular form, it is not intended as a limitation as the scope of the invention is best defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A stand-up type scooter which comprises in combination;

(a) a pair of spaced longitudinal platforms, each being of such width as to support the foot of an operator,

(b) means beneath one of said platforms and in a fixed substantially vertical plane therewith for supporting the said platform,

(c) a pair of supporting means under the other platform, one of said supporting means being fixed in a substantially vertical plane to the underside of said other platform and parallel with the supporting means on said one platform, and the other supporting means being rotatably mounted on said other platform on the lower end of a steering post in front of and in the plane of the fixed supporting member,

(d) means for rotatably supporting the steering post substantially perpendicular to said other platform and means whereby the steering post and the supporting means at the lower end thereof may be rotated relative to the other platform,

(e) means extending between the ends of the two platforms for maintaining said platforms in parallel longitudinal alignment, said means connected to the platforms on pivots which define longitudinal axes through the platforms and (f) additional means connected between the platforms for causing the platforms to pivot in unison on said longitudinal axes and for maintaining the support- 3 4 ing means of the two platforms in parallel planes References Cited when said platforms are pivoted. 1 ed 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2. In a stand-up type scooter toy as c aim in c aim 1, wherein, the means for maintaining the supporting 1238285 8/1917 Gnffin 28016 means of the platforms in parallel planes includes at 5 1391312 9/1921 T' 280*16 least one vertical member, extending from each of the 1516941 11/1924 280 16 platforms, and a bar hingedly connected between the two 1600735 9/1926 Pederson' vertical members. 3,208,762 9/1965 Cebat 28016 3. In a stand-up type scooter toy as claimed in claim BENJAMIN HERSH Primar Examiner 1, wherein the supporting elements for the platforms are 10 y in the form of runners, L. D. MORRIS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A STAND-UP TUPE SCOOTER WHICH COMPRISES IN COMBINATION: (A) A PAIR OF SPACED LONGITUDINAL PLATFORMS, EACH BEING OF SUCH WIDTH AS TO SUPPORT THE FOOT OF AN OPERATOR, (B) MEANS BENEATH ONE OF SAID PLATFORMS AND IN A FIXED SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL PLANE THEREWITH FOR SUPPORTING THE SAID PLATFORM, (C) A PAIR OF SUPPORTING MEANS UNDER THE OTHER PLATFORM, ONE OF SAID SUPPORTING MEANS BEING FIXED IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL PLANE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID OTHER PLATFORM AND PARALLEL WITH THE SUPPORTING MEANS ON SAID ONE PLATFORM, AND THE OTHER SUPPORTING MEANS BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID OTHER PLATFORM ON THE LOWER END OF A STEERING POST IN FRONT OF AND IN THE PLANE OF THE FIXED SUPPORTING MEMBER, (D) MEANS FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING THE STEERING POST SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID OTHER PLATFORM AND MEANS WHEREBY THE STEERING POST AND THE SUPPORTING MEANS AT THE LOWER END THEREOF MAY BE ROTATED RELATIVE TO THE OTHER PLATFORM, (E) MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE ENDS OF THE TWO PLATFORMS FOR MAINTAINING SAID PLATFORMS IN PARALLEL LONGITUDINAL ALIGNMENT, SAID MEANS CONNECTED TO THE PLATFORMS ON PIVOTS WHICH DEFINE LONGITUDINAL AXES (F) ADDITIONAL MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN THE PLATFORMS FOR CAUSING THE PLATFORMS TO PIVOT IN UNISON ON SAID LONGITUDINAL AXES AND FOR MAINTAINING THE SUPPORTING MEANS OF THE TWO PLATFORM IN PARALLEL PLANES WHEN SAID PLATFORM ARE PIVOTED. 